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Oilers' Ryan Smyth home again, naturally

November 3, 2011 | 11:09
pm

The man who fits the phrase "the Oilers' Oiler" is back in his native Alberta.

Ryan Smyth is at home in Edmonton, where he started his NHL career all those years ago. He spoke with my Times colleague Helene Elliott shortly before the Oilers' game against the Kings on Thursday night.

"It's been fun so far," said Smyth, 35, who requested a trade from the Kings in the off-season. "Right from the get-go, in training camp, I got to play with [Ryan] Nugent-Hopkins and [Jordan] Eberle for a while and I've just been enjoying myself and trying to relax and enjoy the teammates. And it's fun while you're winning, too, and we've been successful here lately."

The kids are more than all right in Edmonton.

"These guys have lots of energy, which rubs off," he said. "... It's inspiring. It pushes you and that's what you want. As a player you want to be pushed. And I think the experience that I've gained over the years, hopefully that can go the other way to them, so it's a two-way street."